Being a homestay provider

Thank you for your interest in becoming a homestay provider for Marjon’s international short stay courses. We recognise that the service our homestay families provide is an important factor in ensuring that our students feel welcome and safe.

 

Our educational activities have continued to evolve in response to local, regional, national, and international needs. Proud of our historical roots, we continue to develop our educational courses to reflect the needs of the 21st century, attracting students from all over the UK and overseas.

We're committed to the principles of equal opportunities in all aspects of university life. The aim of these principles is that no person is treated less favourably than another on grounds of social class, gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or racial origin.

 

What is a homestay provider?

Providing homestay accommodation for international students at Marjon is a great way to generate some extra income and learn about new cultures. You'll welcome someone into your home as if they were part of your family.

Marjon is accredited by the British Council which provides guidelines on the provision of homestay accommodation within the UK.

These include:

• Collecting your guest from the University, bus, or train station on arrival and dropping them off on their departure - arrivals and departures will usually be on a Saturday or Sunday between 09:00 and 21:00, however, this cannot be guaranteed and may be outside these times.
• Helping your student find their way to us by providing bus timetables, directions, maps and if possible, by personally showing them the way there and back on their first day.
• Providing breakfast and dinner Monday to Friday - a healthy diet, including plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, catering to a halal diet where necessary.
• Providing breakfast, lunch and dinner at weekends.  If your guest is going on an excursion, then please provide a packed lunch.
• Taking care of your student’s laundry needs – fresh towels and linen every week and provision for laundering personal items.
• Providing clean and comfortable accommodation in a single room - if you are able to accommodate more than one student then we will aim to place students of different languages. We are happy for you to accommodate students from other agencies whilst hosting a Marjon student, however, our students will not share bedrooms.
• Providing reasonable access to the internet for study purposes, enabling the student to remain in contact with home and family.
• To be available for inspection by Marjon on a two-year cycle.

 

Current rates of pay:

• £200 per guest per week.
• Payments are made directly to your bank account

 

Our students

We have Naval Officers studying with us from Oman. These students usually come in September and again in January, and are here for about 14 weeks before heading to Dartmouth. These are all young men from 19 to 21 years old. All our students are over 18 years old.

We run short courses throughout the year with cohorts coming for as little as two weeks and get inquiries from visiting interns and even lecturers

When a student requests a homestay, they are often looking for more than a room in a home. They are looking for support in finding their way around the area, settling into a new way of life, and help to improve their English language skills. Many of our students will maintain contact with their host long after they have departed.

 

What to expect from your guest

• Your guest should try to join in with the everyday life of the household and become a member of the family, eating together and sharing the common living space. There may be minor difficulties and misunderstandings – on both sides – but with goodwill and humour, these can usually be sorted out.
• Your guest is expected to keep their bedroom tidy and make their bed, as this is their own private space.
• Your guest should ask before using any of their own electrical equipment and may need to be advised to use the correct adaptors. It may be wise to have some of these available.
• Your guest might not be used to our climate, so please provide additional blankets if they're cold.
• Your guest will be aware that gas and electricity can be expensive in the UK, so please remind them that heating is not on overnight and they must turn electrical equipment and lighting off when not in use.
• Your student is expected to eat meals with members of the household. They should let you know if they cannot eat any particular food (this may be due to religious or cultural reasons) but are expected to take the opportunity to experiment and try as many new and different foods as they can.

 

Food and Muslim guests

You should provide a traditional British menu but will need to consider the requirements of a halal diet. Food products which are usually halal (permitted for Muslims are):

• Rice, pasta, grains
• Fruit, vegetables, dairy products
• Eggs, most seafood, dried peas, beans and lentils
• Non-alcoholic drinks (tea, coffee, carbonated and still drinks, juices)

Food products which are haram (not permitted for Muslims):

• Pork products (including ham, bacon, sausage, salami and canned vegetables containing pork)
• Meat and poultry not slaughtered according to Islamic dietary law
• Alcoholic drinks (beer, wine, spirits, etc.) and products containing alcohol (vanilla extract) 
• Products which contain animal shortening, lard, gelatine etc.

Certain foods may be difficult to classify because of their ingredients. If in doubt, check for a halal certificate of food labelling or just ask your guest. They may even offer to cook some traditional food from their country for you!

 

Day-to-day considerations

Make arrangements with your guest for the most convenient times for them to bathe each day. Explain how the equipment in the bathroom and toilet work (toilet paper can be flushed down the toilet etc.) Our student should leave the bath, shower, washbasin and toilet clean after use.

Your guest will ask where they should leave their dirty clothes for laundering. 

Your guest should do their own ironing, so please provide access to the iron and ironing board. They may require instruction and supervision at first.

It would be considerate of your guest to offer to help with small jobs such as clearing the table after a meal, helping to fold laundered clothes, or even offering to help with the weekly food shop, and this should be encouraged.

Your guest should ask your permission if they want to invite friends to your home. Please be clear on where they should entertain them and the time they should arrive and leave. Friends should be reasonably quiet and not disturb the rest of the household, especially late at night. 

Your guest must say if they are going to be away overnight or coming home later than normal.

Your guest is provided with a bus pass and should use this service. They should not be reliant on you for lifts to and from the University outside of the initial pick up and drop off.

There is a lot more to being a homestay family; your happiness in talking with your guest will improve their language, your kindness will help them if they feel homesick and, by involving them in your life, you will be giving them an experience they will remember for a lifetime. Your guest may ask many questions relating to the history and culture of Britain and are keen to learn.

 

What to expect from Marjon

We will support you and your student. On the rare occasion that a student is unhappy and requests to be moved, we will mediate to try and resolve any issues but may need to move the student. If you are not comfortable with a student, we are happy to mediate or move a student at your request, if you prefer. One week's notice is required for a student or homestay provider to request a move.

Occasionally, due to international factors beyond our control (e.g., war, terrorism, illness, immigration), a student or group of students may completely cancel their studies in the UK.

Should a group cancel and we are unable to give you at least one week’s notice, you will be compensated with one week’s payment to cover your costs. 

You may want to seek advice about renting a room in your home to a student. More information can be found on the Government website here.

 

To become a homestay provider, please complete this form.

We'll need to arrange a visit to meet you, see your home and check you have a current gas safety certificate and insurance. Then we can arrange a Fire Risk Assessment and start sending you guests.